St. Monarch — Political Economics, East Wing
The classroom buzzed low.
Top students. Legacy heirs. Future billionaires in hoodies and Rolexes.
Damon sat near the back, black hoodie, AirPods in. Focused.
Sasha slid into the seat beside him. Notebook open. Smile locked.
"You always sit alone?"
He looked over. "I sit where my name can't be touched."
She smiled tighter. "Guess I'll have to earn that seat, then."
She thought she was being subtle. Clean outfit. Dimple. A laugh timed too well.
But the System saw everything.
[System Alert: Threat Flag – Category: Proximity Spy]
Subject: Sasha Monroe (Alias)
True ID: Agent Sasha Maren – FBI Special Operations Division
Mission: Infiltrate Damon's academic circle, map behavior, exploit vulnerabilities
But…
Emotion Curve Detected – 16% romantic deviation from mission within first 24 hours
*Bonus Activated: "Natural Gravity" — You now distort logic and loyalty in targets assigned to manipulate or observe you.
Elsewhere — Black Tower, Sub-Level Archive
Damon stood alone, photos of his mother spread across the table.
A document slipped from one of the files.
Black Family Internal Memo – RE: Eleanor's Disinheritance
"Subject carried unknown bearer seed. Bloodline unverified. Possible outside heir involvement."
Zeke watched from the monitor. "They didn't just exile your mom. They tried to erase you."
Nova: "Someone inside that family still fears what you might become."
Damon's jaw clenched.
"I'm not what they fear," he whispered.
"I'm the answer to it."
St. Monarch Soccer Field — Post-Practice
Arielle approached quietly, sweat still glistening from drills.
"You okay?"
"No."
He didn't fake it with her.
"My mother died broke and alone. With secrets kings would kill for. And now they're surfacing like graves don't matter."
Arielle stepped close.
"You've got me now."
Silence.
Then Damon asked, "Why?"
She smirked, soft. "Because power doesn't scare me. It attracts me."
Romance Progress – Arielle Vaughn
→ Emotional Trust: 66%
→ Physical Tension: 91%
→ Loyalty: Becoming earned
Back in Damon's Dorm Suite — Nightfall
Sasha watched him from across the common room. Studying.
Laughing with Zeke. Clapping hands with teammates. Lifting weights shirtless. Pure, composed chaos.
She whispered into her comms: "He's too clean. Too polished."
Dorsey: "Then find his weakness. Fast."
But she didn't respond.
Because in her mind?
She'd just wondered how it would feel if he kissed her.